Segmented Drive Ring for Spiral Conveyor Cage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive mechanisms for larger spiral conveyor belt cages are costly, time-consuming to assemble, and require skilled labor due to the need for precise welding and drilling, with limited flexibility to compensate for 'out-of-roundness' and chain stretching, leading to inefficient operation and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
A drive mechanism featuring a motor, roller chain, and a segmented drive ring with adjustable tooth segments made from CNC-milled pie plates, allowing for precise alignment and adjustment to maintain a constant pitch diameter, reducing the need for welding and drilling, and accommodating chain stretching without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a chain and tooth arrangement is used to drive larger cages, then the drive mechanism can handle larger sizes, but the assembly becomes time-consuming and costly due to welding and drilling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The drive ring is divided into multiple separate tooth segments that can be independently manufactured and then assembled using simple fasteners instead of welding. Each tooth segment is a discrete component that attaches to the drive ring through holes and fasteners, eliminating the need for complex welding operations while maintaining the ability to drive large cages.
Solution Approach 2:
The tooth segments are designed as replaceable, relatively simple components that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. This approach trades the permanence of welded structures for the ease of replacement and simpler assembly of discrete, standardized components.
2Strength
If tooth segments are welded to an arcuate plate, then the structure is rigid, but flexibility to compensate for out-of-roundness is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The tooth segments are designed with adjustment capabilities through slots and fasteners, allowing their positions to be modified. This dynamic adjustment feature enables compensation for out-of-roundness conditions while maintaining sufficient structural rigidity for driving the cage.
Solution Approach 2:
The position parameters of the tooth segments can be changed by adjusting their locations along the slots in the drive ring. This allows the system to adapt to variations in cage roundness by modifying the effective pitch diameter and tooth positioning without changing the fundamental rigid structure.
3Strength
If traditional welding and drilling methods are used for assembly, then strong joints are achieved, but skilled labor and high costs are required
Solution Approach 1:
The welding and drilling process is replaced with a mechanical fastening system using holes and fasteners. This substitution maintains joint strength sufficient for the application while dramatically simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing the need for skilled labor, and lowering costs.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If the chain stretches during operation, then normal wear occurs, but substantial and costly modifications are required to the cage
Solution Approach 1:
The tooth segment positioning system incorporates slots and adjustable fasteners that allow the pitch diameter to be modified. When the chain stretches, the tooth segments can be repositioned along the slots to compensate for the chain elongation, maintaining proper engagement without requiring costly cage modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The effective pitch diameter parameter can be adjusted by repositioning the tooth segments. This parameter change compensates for chain stretching, allowing the system to maintain proper chain-tooth engagement over extended operational periods without substantial modifications.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive mechanism for a cage in a spiral conveyor belt system including a plurality of tooth segments secured to a drive ring and positioned to define a substantially constant pitch diameter. The drive ring may be formed from a plurality of discrete pie plates positioned adjacent each other and arranged in a substantially circular format around the cage.